New Orleans population down 60%

FEWER than 190,000 people are living in New Orleans a year after Hurricane Katrina, according to a door-to-door survey.

The population of 187,525 is about 41% of the 454,000 people estimated to have been living in the city before the storm hit on August 29 last year.

Spokeswoman for the Louisiana Recovery Authority Natalie Wyeth called the results “the definitive, most precise set of numbers we’ve seen”.

The survey was conducted for local health authorities.

Population estimates have ranged widely for New Orleans.

For example, a recent report by a local demographer estimated there were about 230,000 people. Mayor Ray Nagin has cited a slightly higher figure, and last month said he believed the city was on track to reach 300,000 people by New Year.

The results are meant to help city planners determine where health clinics, schools, transport systems and other key infrastructure should be placed, Ms Wyeth said.